The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

Dig Deeper - The Quarry Live at St James Cafe

Some of you already know, but for those who don't we've got a small celebration coming up next Wednesday, and a sneak peak into the future.

The Quarry is marking one year as an independent, member-funded news operation, by hosting a live event in the St James cafe.

We’ll be exploring Guernsey’s French connections and explain how we’ll be focusing on them with an exciting new partnership.

They'll also be an insight into our work, an honest appraisal of what we have learnt and where we are going, as well as a chance to sample some great food from Le Comptoir, a French chef with Guernsey roots.

We always promised our paid members more than just access to exclusive stories, we've done that recently through The Guernsey Record, and this is hopefully the start of even more small events.

If you are a free subscriber, thank you for your support, when you're a small operation every time someone signs up it's noticed and means a lot.

But we have one extra ask. Please consider upgrading to help us deliver in-depth, balanced, solutions based journalism free of advertising and click-bait headlines. That will also give you the opportunity to sign up to attend Dig Deeper - The Quarry Live, we'd love to see you there.

In other news...

• The Royal Court of Guernsey has approved the relocation of three family trusts worth £191.9m from Guernsey to the UK to subject them to UK taxation
• Adult beneficiaries unanimously requested the change based on ethical convictions about fair tax contribution, despite substantial financial disadvantage
• Actuarial calculations show the trusts could grow to £82bn by 2134 if left offshore but will be depleted by that date if moved to the UK
• The court found moral, ethical and social benefits to beneficiaries outweighed financial detriment, with minor beneficiaries' interests secured for 100 years
• The judgment establishes that beneficiaries' ethical convictions about taxation can constitute legitimate "benefit" justifying trust variations

• Guernsey and Alderney have set Personal Injury Discount Rates to take effect on 14th August 2026
• Three separate rates have been established: minus 0.75% for care costs, minus 0.5% for earnings-related damages, and 1% for price inflation damages
• The rates apply to significant personal injury claims involving future costs of care and expenditure
• The decision follows the enactment of the Damages (Assumed Rate of Return and Related Matters) (Enabling Provisions) (Guernsey and Alderney) Law, 2020
• An expert panel was established to recommend rates, with public consultation conducted before final approval

• Guernsey Police's Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search team marks its 80th anniversary, having been established in 1946 to continue de-mining work after the Royal Engineers left
• The team has responded to over 4,500 incidents since July 1946, averaging 56 per year, dealing with unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and pyrotechnics
• An estimated 71,000 landmines were laid in Guernsey during the German occupation, requiring extensive clearance operations after Liberation Day
• Two Royal Engineers died during post-liberation clearance operations: Sapper George Edgar Onions in June 1945 during a de-mining operation in Alderney, and Sapper Walter Ernest Callahan in July 1945 from injuries sustained in St Peter Port Harbour
• Guernsey Police plans to hold a commemoration event for Sapper Callahan, similar to existing commemorations for Sapper Onions in Alderney

• Record 205 queen Asian hornets trapped across Guernsey and Herm during spring season, with nine primary nests destroyed
• Public urged to photograph, track and report hornets via email or WhatsApp rather than disturbing them
• Nests containing thousands of hornets can be found in trees, hedges, brambles and man-made structures
• Hundreds of volunteers checked traps daily throughout two-month spring trapping period
• Information from public sightings helps authorities track worker hornets back to nests for safe removal

• The Guernsey Financial Services Commission has warned of a phishing scam using the fraudulent domain "gfsc.gg.verixsend.com"
• Recipients are advised not to reply or click links, but to forward suspicious emails to a dedicated email address
• Genuine Commission emails only come from domains ending in "gfsc.gg"
• Firms are reminded of cyber security requirements including staff vigilance, security software and timely system updates
• Any significant cyber security events must be reported to the Commission

• Guernsey Ports and Trinity House will replace the Reffée Buoy, a critical South Cardinal navigational aid marking rocks north-east of QE2 marina
• The operation involves Guernsey Ports' Sarnia workboat and Trinity House's buoy-handling vessel THV Galatea
• Cardinal buoys are replaced every three years as part of a rolling maintenance programme due to wear from tidal currents, wave action and weather
• The removed buoy will be inspected, grit blasted, repainted and reconfigured to become the Lower Heads buoy next year
• Guernsey Ports maintains around 60 aids to navigation in local waters as the Local Lighthouse Authority

• Free screening of Jacques Offenbach's opera Robinson Crusoé at Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts on 21 July
• Partnership between Opéra de Rennes Angers and Guernsey Arts brings French production to island audiences
• Laurent Pelly's contemporary production transforms the opera into social satire exploring themes of exclusion, migration and consumerism
• Part of Opera on Screen initiative, now in sixth edition, co-produced by five French opera houses
• Event open to viewers aged eight and above, with tickets available online

This week's audio briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

0:00

/0

1×

Guernsey Gazette

The Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority has proposed modifications to telecommunications licenses for 15 operators including JT, Sure, and Starlink.

The Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority has finalized modifications to operating licenses for 15 telecommunications companies.

Four Hillview property companies have been ordered into compulsory liquidation by the Royal Court with a claim deadline of August 7, 2026.

GFSC notices

Amendments to the Financial Crime Returns Rules